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NYSC: National Unity or National Chaos?

The National Youth Service Corps was established on the 22nd of May 1973 by General Yakub Gowon to help foster integration, reconciliation, and national unity among youths in Nigeria. It is a compulsory one-year service for graduates below 30 years of age.

Although the program can be said to be successful as it has yielded positive successes as regards her objectives, the state of the scheme is alarming.

There have been several cases of abduction kidnapped corps members and even loss of lives. This is heightened by the insecurities in Nigeria, especially in the Northern part of Nigeria.

It was alleged that the cases of insecurity and fear among corps members increased during the tenure of the current director-general of the National Youth Service Corps, Yusha’u Ahmed. The Renewed Hope Agenda Coalition (RHOC) had even asked the President, Bola Tinubu to sack him due to his negligence about the security and welfare of the corps members.

Why should anyone have to risk their life because they are undertaking national service? The Corps members are anxious about their safety and have taken to the internet to voice their fears. They even went ahead to advise intending corps members to find a way of serving the nation in their state of residence or their neighboring states due to their heightened insecurities.

The scheme that was put down to foster integration has now turned into a scheme that creates chaos and tension among corps members, their families, and friends. There is a need for the NYSC to be changed and reformed given these abhorrent factors.

If the NYSC scheme can’t be scrapped, measures should be put in place to ensure the safety of the lives of the youth. After spending their time, money, and energy towards becoming the best version of themselves, a one-year National Service shouldn’t deter them from reaping the fruit of their labor.